Michigan has joined six other states with measles outbreaks, bringing the total to seven states in the US. The latest outbreak, near Grand Rapids, has three linked cases tied to a large outbreak in Ontario, Canada.
The number of cases in Michigan is seven confirmed, but four more remain unlinked. This is not the first time Michigan has seen a measles outbreak, with its last one occurring in 2019.
Measles cases have also been reported in several other states, including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted seven clusters of measles cases.
The virus is highly contagious and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. Measles can be prevented with vaccines, but the spread of the disease in communities with low vaccination rates remains a concern.
In some cases, people may need an MMR booster if they live in an area with an outbreak or have underlying medical conditions that make them more susceptible to infection. Adults who received adequate vaccination earlier in life generally don’t need shots now, but experts recommend checking immunity levels through lab tests.
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a rash, which appears three to five days after the first symptoms. Complications can be severe, such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, or death.
There is no specific treatment for measles, but doctors try to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. The spread of measles highlights the importance of herd immunity in communities with high vaccination rates above 95%.
Source: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/michigan-joins-six-other-states-measles-outbreaks-what-know